Changes afoot for Docklands

By Shane Scanlan

The election of a new State Government means some significant changes for Docklands – particularly in the area of planning.

Docklanders can expect to see VicUrban merged into a new urban renewal authority and they can expect to see the precinct rapidly expanded to the north, with the E-Gate project gaining increased significance.

And under the new Baillieu Government, the City of Melbourne will have more influence on the future of Docklands.

In an interview with Docklands News, Planning Minister Matthew Guy outlined broadly that inner urban renewal would be managed by the new authority.  The specifics of the new authority are yet to be announced, but it is understood that a specific business unit would look after Docklands and the E-Gate area to its north.

“We believe that the original model for Docklands with its separate authority was a good one,” Mr Guy said.

“Our policy is for the creation of a new urban renewal authority.  But obviously we won’t be creating an authority which will duplicate the role of VicUrban.  We are still in the conceptual stage and the relationship with VicUrban is still being worked out,” he said.

VicUrban assumed development responsibility for Docklands following the merger of the Docklands Authority and the Urban and Regional Land Corporation in 2003.  VicUrban has been without a chairperson since former chairman Tony Darvall left the post last July.  In December, its CEO Pru Sanderson resigned.

Mr Guy said: “I think Docklands requires an injection of stability and we intend to do that.”

He said the Government also intended to give VicUrban employees and those with business relationships with VicUrban some certainty.

“I think what people want more than anything is certainty.  They’ll want to know what kind of authority they’ll be dealing with and how it will go forward,” he said.

Mr Guy said the railway yards to the north of Docklands, known as E-Gate, would become a priority for urban renewal under the new Government.

He said the 20 hectare site, bounded by Dudley St, Footscray Rd, Moonee Ponds Creek and the railway, could be the answer to Docklands’ lack of community facilities.

“Some of the community infrastructure for Docklands could be fulfilled by land in E-Gate which is, so far, not committed,” Mr Guy said.

“I think it has to become an extension of Docklands because there is no use creating a precinct all to itself.   It will have a community of interest with what already exists there in the Docklands.”

“Clearly, in my view, it would be most sensible to have a common community of interest between the two and I think that community infrastructure can play a role in doing that.”

Mr Guy also flagged more influence for the City of Melbourne in Docklands’ future.  Following the coalition victory late last year, the Lord Mayor Robert Doyle renewed his campaign for planning powers in the precinct.

“I have a good relationship with Robert – full stop.  My view is that we will be able to work very well together,” Mr Guy said.

“Again, I have a good personal relationship with Peter Clarke (chair of the council’s planning committee). I know him very well and have done for a while.”

“My view is that we will be able to have a very good relationship with Melbourne City Council in relation to Docklands.”